This cross pendant/2 strand necklace came from a very influential Santa Fe collector who kept this locked up in safe,until I was asked to sell it

DESCRIPTION:

One thing about the Aldrich's work,is that right away, you know whose work it is.. Their look is very identifiable & is a look that you might say that has their name attached.What thisDurango ,Co. husband & wife duo do, is a technique that other artisans choose not to do, since it's time consuming, tedious & VERY technical. This type of art takes a steady hand, good eye sight & a whole LOT of patience to cut & shape this tiny of stones that then have to be precisely laid. I mean, just zoom in on the very very center of the cross!(photo 4 is a good example) Inside the orange spiny oyster, you have a diamond shape of purple Sugilite..Check out how small the stones are cut when you get to the very center, where it's literally a dot of blue turquoise! I don't know how they do it, but it's this tiny tiny detail, that has always impressed me with their work!

You won't find better mosaic work (Well maybe Zuni! ) & with this cross,the Aldrich's chose a vivid blue KIngman turquoise for their dominant color & then has accenting colors of purple Sugilite & 'Real" Australian Opal (Not the fake opal you see online!) that alternate in a zig zag pattern. Tiny slivers of lime green Orvil Jack turquoise & spiny oyster perfectly blend from the Kingman to the Sugilite/Opal pattern. The mosaic is so perfect,that it is hard to tell where one stone starts or the other begins! Normally with a mosaic technique, you see where the stones lay against the other,but with their art, you have to have a magnifying loupe!!

The cross sits in a serrated bezel & all the 'teeth' are in perfect shape. Has a shepherd's hook on back.The bead necklace has a nice patina..

The necklace is very versatile!!

1)You can leave as is, 2)take the cross off & put it on another necklace,3) wear the beads alone,4) put another pendant on them!